Wringer type mop



stiffening purposes. It has the same arched shape in cross section as wire frame sideportions I6.

The sponge A, of rubber, cellulose, or the like, or a natural sponge or other suitable cleaning material, thus is clampingly mounted at its rearward edge portion-see Fig. 2-between the support member and clamp. Coil portions 2l maintain a pressure contact when portions 22 are seated in catches 25.

A squeezing member includes an open wire frame having the side portions 30 similarly arched. Extending inwardly towards each other and from the rear ends of portions 30 are the portions 3l. These are aligned but herein are shown terminating short of meeting engagement. From such adjacent ends there extends portion 32 of considerable length connected by midportion 33. These form the handle for the squeezing member. Any other suitable or equivalent handle arrangement may be provided.

Extending inwardly towards each other from the opposite ends of side portions 30 are the portions 34. These have forward extensions 35 terminating in ends formed as eye portions 36. Portions 34, may, if desired, be connected as at 3l.

Front portion l1 of the support member includes a similar number of U-shaped forwardly directed portions 38, the midportions of which are positioned in the openings of the eyes 36. This constitutes the pivotal connection at the forward edges of the members and therebetween.

A foraminated plate 39 having openings 40 therethrough and similar to plate 26 and similarly arched has curled portions 4I embracing side portions 30. It also has the reenforcing parallel flanges 42.

The flange 42 adjacent handle 32-33 supports spring clip 43 having portion 44 adapted to engage the exposed edge of the adjacent flange 29 of plate 25 when the parts are positioned as shown in Fig. 2. Thus, the squeezing and supporting members are yieldingly locked together. Movement of the handle 32-33 is sufficient to engage or disengage this locking arrangement. As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, handle portions 32 adjacent portion 33 are laterally directed so as to be readily engageable-see Fig. Z-when positioned as shown therein and adjacent the handle I 0.

Any other equivalent or suitable means may be utilized in place of the foraminated plates, these, however, having been found most suitable.

The salient parts of the invention, therefore, include three wire frames, two forarninated plates or their equivalents and a handle connecting member.

One structural feature, in addition to those handle and but partially overlaps the support therefor carried by the handle, the clamp being operative in connection therewith for holding the so-called cleaning element to the structure.

A further feature of the invention, it will be obvious, is the relatively small volume occupied by the respective parts when operatively associated together for cleaning or squeezing. While the invention has been illustrated and described in great detail in the drawing and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative 'and not restrictive in charaoter.

The several modifications described herein as well as others which will readily suggest themselves to persons skilled in this art, all are considered to be within the broad scope of the invention, reference being had to the appended claims.

The invention claimed is:

l. In a unitary mop structure for detachably supporting a readily `compressible sponge member, the combination of a base plate structure Y wider than its length from front to back and slightly arched from front to back, a handle rigidly secured at its forward end to the rear of the base plate structure, a sponge-like member normally projecting forwardly and appreciably beyond the front of the base plate, an open wire clamp for clamping the sponge to the convex side of the plate, the wire portions being deeply embeddable in the rear and plate lapping portion of the sponge when in clamping engagement therewith, said clamp having pivotal conpreviously mentioned herein, is the sequential pivotal connection of the squeezing member, the support member and the clamp. While the clamp is shown of open work character, it may be reticulated, or even include a foraminated plate addition, if desired.

While the invention has been described as being applicable to the use of water for cleaning purposes, it is to be understood that the invention may be utilized for the application of wax, et cetera, as well -as polishing thereof, or if the so-called cleaning element is of sponge rubber, the device may be utilized as a wall cleaner, etc.

A further feature of the invention consists in the stream-line connection, as it were, of the major support for the so-called cleaning element so that it is positioned forwardly of the nection with the plate structure near the rear end thereof, and having a portion extending rearwardly from the pivotal connection and along said handle and normally constrained toward clamping engagement with the plate when locked at its rearward free end to the handle, and a similarly curved sponge squeezing plate, said squeezing plate having pivotal connection at its forward portion with the forward portion of the base structure, the squeezing plate being of similar outline and area and normally lying adjacent the base plate structure, opposite from the sponge and clamp and movable about its pivotal connection approximately 300 for doubling the sponge upon itself and Ysqueezing the doubled sponge between said plates, the reversely folded portion of the sponge then being interposed between the clamp and squeezing plate and the clamp then being positioned between the doubled sponge portions, the squeezing plate having a handle portion extending rearwardly from the end opposite its pivotal connection and adapted to lie alongside the mop handle when in nonsqueezing position. Y

2. A mop structure as defined by claim 21, characterized by the base plate structure including a wire frame arrangement connected to the first mentioned handle and having spaced portions and a base plate member secured at opposite sides to said spaced portions and with the rear spaced from the frame arrangement, the squeezing plate including a wire frame arrangement having pivotal connection with the base Wire frame arrangement and two spaced portions and a squeezing plate member Secured at opposite sides to the last mentioned spaced portions, the squeezing plate handle portion constituting an integral median extension of said last mentioned spaced portions. HENRY V., REYNOLDS. 

